Mnguy, please provide a detailed breakdown of costs to show how it's possible to 'comfortably' live on 2 million pesos or less per month at current prices in Bogota.quote]

You know I like giving you a hard time, relax. I lived with a Colombian gal near the Narino Transmi stop and rent was about 350k per month not including services. Safe neighborhood, nice two-bedroom apartment (flat). She worked over 40 hours per week in a professional office environment and made about one million a month.

I am no longer living in Colombia, so I can't give 'current' prices, but really, if you want to make it in Colombia, live like a Colombian. Find a nice boy or girl that you like and give it a go. Or find a private student willing to pay one million per hour.

Okay, then I apologize for being a bit too touchy. My rent is 400k/month plus services and internet, which push it too 600k/month. I share an older, but nice (and large) house with one other person. I'm getting quite a decent deal for my neighborhood. And you're right - most Colombians make do with very little. I'm sure your roommate had very little margin for error on a million/month.

I think the biggest problem in ESL in Latin America is people who think that because they can speak English they can teach it. No training, no qualifications, no skill, but high sense of entitlement. A sure path to defeat. If you have a degree in Education, certainly, you can make in the $20,000 to $30,000 peso range, with all the benefits required by law. But, yeah, if all you are qualified for is a language school, you are likely to feel underpaid and underappreciated. I just wonder why it is that people think they can TEACH in Mexico with no training or qualifications, the same people wouldn't be likely to apply for a professional job in their home country that they weren't qualified for, so why is is OK in other countries?

I made $20,000 pesos per month in beautiful Mexico DF with just a TEFL cert.

So, YES it can be done!

And yes, native-speakers are way better qualified than the Mexican teachers that can not even speak English yet are allowed to teach it.

This is a major problem in the quality of education in Mexico as a whole. Not just a few native-English teachers taking some jobs as EFL instructors.

Mexican schools and thus Mexican students are the real losers in the system which exists inside Mexico that allows unqualified teachers who prefer protesting to actual teaching to have a sense of entitlement to their jobs...

And yes, native-speakers are way better qualified than the Mexican teachers that can not even speak English yet are allowed to teach it.

Right! I saw that a lot when I was teaching in Mexico City.

Prof.Gringo wrote:

Mexican schools and thus Mexican students are the real losers in the system which exists inside Mexico that allows unqualified teachers who prefer protesting to actual teaching to have a sense of entitlement to their jobs...

According to some, we North Americans are the only people on the planet who have this "sense of entitlement" . Thanks for pointing out that it is alive and well in other countries Prof. Gringo.
Thanks for helping to keep things FAIR & BALANCED here on the greatest EFL sight on the net...Daves!!!

And yes, native-speakers are way better qualified than the Mexican teachers that can not even speak English yet are allowed to teach it.

Right! I saw that a lot when I was teaching in Mexico City.

Prof.Gringo wrote:

Mexican schools and thus Mexican students are the real losers in the system which exists inside Mexico that allows unqualified teachers who prefer protesting to actual teaching to have a sense of entitlement to their jobs...

According to some, we North Americans are the only people on the planet who have this "sense of entitlement" . Thanks for pointing out that it is alive and well in other countries Prof. Gringo.
Thanks for helping to keep things FAIR & BALANCED here on the greatest EFL sight on the net...Daves!!!

And yes, native-speakers are way better qualified than the Mexican teachers that can not even speak English yet are allowed to teach it.

Right! I saw that a lot when I was teaching in Mexico City.

Prof.Gringo wrote:

Mexican schools and thus Mexican students are the real losers in the system which exists inside Mexico that allows unqualified teachers who prefer protesting to actual teaching to have a sense of entitlement to their jobs...

According to some, we North Americans are the only people on the planet who have this "sense of entitlement" . Thanks for pointing out that it is alive and well in other countries Prof. Gringo.
Thanks for helping to keep things FAIR & BALANCED here on the greatest EFL sight on the net...Daves!!!